Would I Sooner Be Bitten By A Wolf or A Hyena?

I got a very strange look from someone once when I said that I really liked hyenas. I pointed out the hyena (yes, I have stopped spelling it "hyaena" as people got so worked up about it!) types and some facts including about "hyena men" of Nigeria. I was asked why I knew so much about hyena? Uh, "naturalist" about covers it but there are other reasons I intend to go into in another post.

"So which would you sooner be bitten by -a wolf or hyena?"  Silly question really but my response was immediate: "A wolf!"  Here is why from Bright Side 15+ Animals That Have the Strongest Bite

 https://brightside.me/articles/15-animals-that-have-the-strongest-bite-796851/?fbclid=IwY2xjawMb2XhleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETAzMUdtT25Ld1JSYVBRelpJAR6sYEpkNNT_W8Xns6sOSqnDburi5ac69HNWNSTNjSjNSkSioclL0a4fCBv5WQ_aem_aah3IpXrWPj-l1_m9Rr9Aw

Fascinating photo compares the dentition of a grey wolf (left) to that of a spotted hyena. Both are fearsome predators, but the bite force of the hyena (1,100 pounds per square inch or psi) is more than double that of a wolf (398 psi). Combined with a powerful digestive system, hyenas are one of the few carnivores capable of crushing and digesting the large bones of their prey (allows then to get to the highly nutritious marrow). Other carnivores will gnaw on large bones and eat the small ones. For the carnivores of our planet, bite force is more than bragging rights. It helps determine what type of prey they go after and how large of an animal they are willing to take on, how that prey is hunted and subdued, and how it is consumed. Biting is also a main defensive weapon for predators against other predators.

Further research in articles like the one below show other interesting comparisons. For example, the gorilla is one of the few herbivores listed on the top list, but its large teeth, and strong neck and jaw muscles give it a powerful bite (1,300 psi) which is stronger than most of the top carnivores. It allows gorillas to consume all parts of the plants they eat including roots - or even crack open a coconut. The puma/panther has relatively small head, but it's bite comes in at 725 psi and, combined with its ambush style of hunting and fast speed, makes it more than capable of taking down prey larger than itself. Jaguars easily top the cat list (1,500 psi), and they are the only feline that can kill large prey by piercing the skull as opposed to biting the neck. Crocodilians are at the top of the list below (3,700 psi) and, given their inability to grasp, use their sharp teeth and vise-like jaws to clamp down on prey before spinning rapidly to tear off bite-sized pieces.

Our own bite force is a lowly 160 psi and probably contributes to our fondness for cooked food and marinades - as well as our complete reliance on weapons when we hunt or fish. Not surprising that an online search showed orcas with the top bite force in the animal kingdom coming in at 19,000 psi.

To prove the point look at this comparison photo. (c)2025 respective copyright holder

Now, which would you sooner be bitten by?